Infernalist:These governments...Egypt and Tunisia and other places..are learning that Islamic governments do not function well in a democracy.

As sad as the assassinations are, they are breeding the proper amount of disdain and aversion to a religious government that is needed for a healthy democracy.

I don't know whether to be hopeful for change and peace in the middle east, or to just continue being despondent that shiat like this still happens. Haven't those people had enough of killing? What is it going to take to undo centuries of Hatfield-McCoyism? The best I can hope for is (general) education to elevate the proverbial rednecks into a respectable group, but damn... I just don't know if it will ever happen. Such a goddamn farking waste.

AlwaysRightBoy:I was in Tunisia about 13 years ago and thought the country and its people were very interesting and very tolerate towards western types and all that I've read in the last few years just saddens me.

/wife got her ass handed to her for not wearing long pants one day

//I tried to take a picture of the presidential palace at Carthage and almost got my ass handed to me by guards with bayonets on their rifles

Maybe I misinterpreted your story but getting a beatdown for wearing pants and taking pictures doesn't seem all that tolerant.

RealAmericanHero:AlwaysRightBoy: I was in Tunisia about 13 years ago and thought the country and its people were very interesting and very tolerate towards western types and all that I've read in the last few years just saddens me.

/wife got her ass handed to her for not wearing long pants one day

//I tried to take a picture of the presidential palace at Carthage and almost got my ass handed to me by guards with bayonets on their rifles

Maybe I misinterpreted your story but getting a beatdown for wearing pants and taking pictures doesn't seem all that tolerant.

That's a good more tolerant than some other countries over there. The lesson for me is when in someone's country respect the traditions.

Istanbul is much more tolerant with western types.

/wife was heckled by all the women on every street we walked down that day, she learned her lesson